Inside Young at Art preschool

The kids at the Young At Art preschool in Davie can identify Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night, Georgia O’Keeffe’s flowers and the New York-inspired paintings of Romare Bearden.

These preschoolers, ages 3 to 5, get to spend an hour a day at the Young at Art museum when it’s closed to the public and even have a special exhibition to display their artwork.

But that’s not all. They have incorporated science, technology and math by studying galaxies, volcanoes and the flow of water at their water table.

“It’s everything you’d find in a normal classroom - math, science, reading, all of your academic subjects, but accessed through the arts,” said preschool director Lisa Feeney. “Art is how most young children learn. It’s natural to them.”

TO APPLY

Tuition at Young at Art's preschool is about $7,000 for the 10-month school year. The school day runs 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday; before- and after-care is available.

Kids bring their lunch. The school can take up to 22 students and expects to have about 12 seats available for fall.

An open house is set for 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 18 at the museum, 751 SW 121st Ave., in Davie.

The preschool, which opened in October, follows the Florida early learning standards. Currently, there are about 10 kids in a multi-age group with two teachers certified to teach preschool who are also practicing artists.

The Broward County library, located at the museum, is also available for the preschoolers, allowing them to have their own library card with the capability to check out two books at a time. This combination of the museum and the library has guided the preschool into an art- and literacy-based curriculum.

“I like this preschool because they have books,” said 4-year old Ethan Bernard.

Every month, the teacher highlights a different artist and relates it to other subjects. This month the classroom is decorated with handmade buildings representing New York because they are looking at the art of Romare Bearden. They are studying the letter “R” for the artist’s first name and are allowed to check out any books related to the letter, the artist and his work.

“It’s not just a school of learning how to do things with art,” said parent Sonia Thomas. “My son gets upset when they don’t have school. He comes home talking about quicksand, bugs, cumulus clouds and the experiments he does in school.”

The school has also found a way to highlight the children’s’ unique talents by providing individual art kits, in which they can choose what materials to use.

“I’ve always wanted something art based, I fell in love with the program because art is a basis for a lot of things in the future,” said parent Karen Hurst. “It helps out with math, English and all your other learning. I’ve seen my daughter completely develop, and she is completely happy.”

The preschool has a capacity of 22 students and hopes to expand in the upcoming years. But their biggest priority is taking advantage of the museum facility.

“The children get to experience an art museum every day,” Feeney said.